New Afghanistan deaths expose a country in chaos

The crisis in occupied Afghanistan has deepened after Afghan personnel killed six troops from the US-led coalition last weekend.

Nato has now suspended joint operations with Afghan forces. Joint patrols will only take place with the express permission of senior commanders.

This is a frightening situation for Nato. After 18 months of talking up the potential for early troop withdrawal it exposes the chaos on the ground.

The bloody war and occupation has ravaged Afghanistan. Hundreds of thousands of civilians have been killed. And fewer people now have access to electricity than they did when the war began in 2001.

On Tuesday of this week a suicide bomb attack killed at least 12 people, thought to be Western workers, who were travelling to Kabul airport.

US commanders have now organised an armed guard for their soldiers while they sleep and during meetings with Afghan forces. Soldiers have been told to carry fully loaded weapons at all times, even inside their own bases.

And there is mounting evidence that British intelligence services helped the US mount drone attacks that have killed scores of civilians.

There will never be peace in Afghanistan until occupying forces are forced to leave.